Chapter 2
Inazuma Town
Arriving at the shop, she opened the door and saw an old man wih round sunglasses at the counter and a group of adults celebrating. She went over to the counter and took the farthest seat at the corner, she somehow didn't want blend in that crowd of adults. They constisted of 5 men and 4 women, they were just normally celebrating because of some promoton from work or so she heard them saying.
The raven-haired girl raised her hand , "Oji-san, 1 Miso Ramen please."
"Sure." The old man replied, starting to prepare the food.
After recieving his reply, the girl sat there waiting for the food. a few seconds later, she decided to take out her MP3 and placed one earphone on her left ear. She placed her cheek on her hand, her eye's half closed; thinking about certain things and soccer.
"I hope they're doing alright." She whispered to herself.
Finally, her ramen was cooked and the old man placed it in front of her, "Here."
She grinned, "Thanks." Finally she got to eat! to be honest she was somewhat hungry from all the traveling; grabbing a pair of chopsticks and snapping it into two, she dug in.
After she finished eating, she grabbed her stuff and placed the money on the counter, "Oji-san, here's the bill, Ja." then she got off her seat and exited the restaurant. 'that was really good!' She thought happily, a grin adorned her face. 'I think ramen has become my no.1 favorite food, haha. Gotta note myself to come back here again.'
She stopped as she suddenly noticed that it was already, afternoon almost evening.
"It's getting dark soon..." She mumbled, staring at the red-orange sky above her.. 'What should i do..?'
She took out her wallet and peeked at it. " Well, I have enough for a stay...but..." 'I think this won't do it. I wont have extra money for food tomorrow...I sure don't want to use those guy's money either...'
She sighed, putting the wallet back into her pant's pocket and went on the path, deciding to explore the town more. She took out a gum and she chewed on it, looking around the place. 'hmm, kekko yaru jan(1)' she thought, looking around the town buildings.
'It's quite relaxing here, I wonder where that steel tower is.' She wondered, looking at her surroundings. Later she then spotted it.
"There!" She said to herself, walking onto the direction where the steel tower was, and of course she was going to take her sweet time.
Arriving at the hill where the Steel Tower resided, She never though that it was quite far up, though. She straightened herself, closing her eyes and took a deep breath and then exhaled. after that, she looked at her right side, noticing that the sun was already going to set soon. But that thought aside, she stared and then half-smiled at the scenery before her. The scenery of an orange sky, the sun setting over the town. It was really a beautiful sight.
But then she was interrupted from her musings as she then, heared a loud shout from someone and was then followed by a 'thud' sound.
She looked ahead of her and saw a boy, no older than her, waring an orange headband and he wore a green long sleeved shirt with two orange stripes that was vertical; from the collar of the shirt to the end of the sleeve, and seems like underneath it was a orange turtleneck(?) then for the pants he wore a blue gakuran pants, fall back onto the ground harshfully as he was hit by a tire that was hanged from the tree branch near a bench. It looked like he was there for quite awhile now as his appearance was battered and really dirty from all the sweat and dirt. The raven-haired girl, raised her eyebrow in confusion. If that was so, then why didn't she noticed him earlier? was it because she was too caught up in her thoughts that she failed to notice him? She thought, a small sweatdop appeared on her cheek.
She flinched again watching, as the boy got hit by the tire again and again fell back onto the ground.
'I wonder what that's for.' She has never seen someone doing something like that...maybe a some kind of training perhaps?
'Maybe.' She answered her own question, still watching the boy get beaten down by the large tire.
She stayed there observing the guy getting hit by the tire and flinch once in a while when she thinks it was going to really hurt. After some time, the boy got hit on his face and flew back head first to the ground.
"Ah!" She let out, as she ran quickly to the boy's side, surely that has got to hurt alot in the head. She just hoped that the guy didn't get a concussion on something.
As she arrived, she saw that the buy was unconcious. She knelt down beside him and slapped his cheek lightly over and over as if trying to wake him up.
"Oi, wake up!"
The boy's eyes opened slowly, "Are?..."
"Oi, are you okay?" She asked him.
The boy looked at the girl's face hovering above his own. He could see her clearly but he couldn't hear what she was saying, it was as if he was in a water. The first thing that came to his mind was, 'pretty..' he thought. Especially those red orbs that was staring right into his brown ones. It felt like it was peircing right into his soul. He stared as the girl said something to him, worry evident on her face. He didn't notice his cheeks slightly turning red.
"Oi~are you okay or what?" The girl asked, the guy was already awake, but somehow he just kept on staring at her like i was some kind of ghost or something...or was there something in my face? Her eyes widened slightly, then started to wipe something away from her face.
The boy watched as the girl holding him said something and then her expression turned from worry to confusion. then from confusion, her eye's widened slightly and then somehow, she was trying to wipe something off from her face. Just then his senses went clear.
The girl stopped wiping her face, realizing there wasn't anything on her face at all. She looked at the boy again.
"Hey, are you okay?" She asked for the third time. This time glady, the boy finally answered her.
"Aah." He replied as he sat up, flinching from the pain in his head. "Ow!"
"O-oi, are you sure you're fine?"
He turned his head to look at her and forced a grin. "Yeah, I'm sure. This happens to me quite a lot."
"Wow, I'm surprised you still didn't get a bump on you're head." She said jokingly, standing up. She held a hand out to him.
The boy looked at her hand slightly surprised and looked up at her. She half-smiled, "Here."
The boy grinned at her and then gladly took the hand and he got up; The girl helping him. When he stood on his own feet, he took a step forward but almost fell, luckily the girl caught him, he grinned embarrasingly at her.
"Thanks..."
The girl only smirked at him softly and let him to the bench.
As he sat down on the bench thanks from the help of the girl, she also sat beside him.
"I'm Endou Mamoru, by the way." He introduced himself.
"I'm Akira, just 'Akira'." She replied.
'Just "Akira"? No last name?' The boy thought, who is now identified as 'Endou Mamoru'.
"So, are you feeling any better?" She asked him.
Endou nodded. "Yep, much better."
After that, it was followed by an akward silence between the both of them. Endou didn't know why he was so silent around her, normally he would be already talking to the person about some stuff, but with her, It seems to be a different case, his took a look at her from the corner of his eyes. She's really pretty, he can't deny it. Suddenly he felt his face become hot and then he quickly looked to the opposite direction. He really wants to talk to her, suddenly he noticed a soccer ball beside Akira's belongings. He grinned. 'So she plays soccer?' He thought, finally having a topic as an excuse to talk.
But on Akira's side it was slightly different. She was thinking about something. About that training he just did and for what purpose it was. She didn't notice Endou staring at her from the corner of his eyes. She really wanted to ask him...but the problem was, apparently, she was a very shy person. She wouldn't have any trouble communicating with someone as long as it was someone she has known for some time. But with persons she just met; It's like almost she becomes mute. Quite weird, huh? But none the less, she's gonna find her courage to talk.
...
..
.
"Ano sa(2)/ Akira-" They said in unison. Realizing, they stopped abruptly, then a few moments of silence.
"Pfft." They both let out and then laughed. After a few moments, they stopped finally out of breath. Inhaling and exhaling air simontainiously.
"Ne, Endou," Akira started.
"Hm?"
"I was wondering, what was that earlier? Some training of some kind?"
"Aah, that was my training routine for soccer."
"Eh, soccer? Then are you a goalkeeper? considering you're training strategy and such."
"Yeah. My position is a goalkeeper. My team's 'Raimon Eleven'...but sadly we can't play any official matches." Endou said, dissapointment evident in his voice at the last part, but that dissapeared quickly as he turned to look at her suddenly, surprising her a bit.
"And you?" He asked, grinning.
"Eh? me?"
"Yeah, you play soccer right?" He looked at her with those eye's that screams 'innocent!'.
"Yeah, I do play soccer...but how'd you know?"
Endou smirked and pointed at her belongings on the ground...And there was her ball. "Are-sa(3)" He pointed out.
Akira sweatdropped, 'That's right...I almost forgot about them.'
"So?" Endou looked at her expectingly.
"The truth is, i don't really play in any teams." Akira said.
Endou looked surprised,"Eh? You don't play in any team? Nande(4)?"
Akira only gave him a half hearted smile, her face turned solemn and nostalgic, and was that guilt in her eyes? Endou was again surprised at himself, since when did he become observant all of a sudden? She chuckeled and then spoke.
"I didn't go to some school actually, I was home schooled along with some other children."
Now he was even more lost. 'Home schooled along with some other children?', Akira looked at his expression and chuckled a bit.
"I'm an orphan actually, I was already in the orphanage ever since i can remember." She told him.
"...So, you were left there as a baby?"
"No, actually, i heard from the caretaker that i was bought into the orphanage when i was 7 years old. Seem like they found me on a nearby forest all battered with this ball," She picked up her soccer ball, idicating that it was the ball that she was talking about, "A bag along with a parachute. Now, I don't know about the parachute. And so, after that they found me, i was hospitalized and soon they realized that i had an amnesia." 'Yada-na(5), I wonder why I'm telling him all this. I never shared this with anybody other than nii-san and the others...'
"So, that is why you said the memory that you had was just in the orphanage and everything before that...you couldn't remember?" The boy asked, smypathizing with her.
"So yu koto(6)"
"So, is the name 'Akira' you're real name?"
" Un, It is my real name. Apparently, I had an ID with me for some reason I don't know, but the part where my sur name was got burned for some reason."
"Ano sa, Akira..." Endou started unsurely, he felt bad on making her remember something horrible about her past.
"Nani(7)?"
"...Gomen, for letting you remember something terrible. It must have been a terrible memory..."Endou said, with a guilty expression on his face.
"Heh, It's okay." Akira gave him a grin. Endou was kinda taken aback by the sudden change of attitude, without giving it much thought, he grinned in return.
"Hee~even so, it seems like a mystery." Endou pointed out, putting both his hands to his side and used it as support as he sat more comfortably on the bench.
"Sou da ne(8)"
"Speaking about soccer...want to have a one on one?" Endou challenged her.
"One on One?"
"I'll be the keeper, You'll be the-" Endou stopped suddenly.
"The what?"
"That's right...What position do play in? Akira?" He asked her sheepishly.
"I'm okay on either positions; I can play as Defender, Mid-Fielder and a little bit of Forward."
"Woah! really? That's awesome!"
"Although I play those positions, I'm not that good. haha."
"What are you saying, I'm sure you're a good player! Okay, now that's all set, let's play a one on one!" Endou stood up from his seat, excited.
"But...In this place, we can't play..." He stated as he looked around, he wanted to have a goal, "Aha! That's right! The river bank!" He said, turning around to Akira,
"Ne, Akira. I think it's good to go to the river bank, there is a soccer field there, so what do you say?"
Akira stood up placing her bag on her shoulders and carrying her soccer ball. "Sure. I'm fine with it."
"Yosh! let's go!" Endou pumped his fist up into the air, and then walked away.
"Umm...Endou?"
Endou stopped, and looked at her. "What?"
"You're bag...you forgot it."
"Ah-you're right...hehe.." Endou scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
Akira sweatdropped.
Grabbing his bag, Endou walked past Akira and, "Okay! Then let's go!" He shouted childishly.
Akira only smiled at his antics and continued to follow him, as they walked towards, the place called the river bank.
After they arrived at the river bank, Endou neared on the bench and placed his bag there, and Akira followed suit. Endou turned to her and then said. "This is the river bank. I usually come to practice around here with some kids that usually trains in here too, I guess they already went home for today. It is getting late."
"Yeah, Isn't you're Mom gonna be worried?"
"Nah, don't worry. I usually go home later than this kind of time, since I'm always practicing on that Steel Tower over there." He pointed to the opposite direction across the bridge. "My Mom knows, so no need to worry."
"If you say so."
"Okay, lets get started shall we?" Endou ran into the field.
"Sure!" Akira replied, taking off her jacket and placed it over her bag which was on the bench. Then she jogged to the other side of the field opposite to where Endou was. She stopped on the middle and then faced him.
"So, what's the rule, Endou?" She called out.
"The rule's simple, we just play like what players normally do, we steal each other's ball and and shoot for the goal, but in my case, when you have the ball and i try to stop your shoot by hand when i get into the Goalkeeper's territory I can use my hands, same goes for you, everything is up to to yourself. I'll play both fields, and you decide for yourself." He finished. " How's that sound?"
"Hmm." Akira crossed her arms. " I think it sounds fair enough." She smirked.
Endou nodded and held out a soccer ball which he had the entire time. And placed it in the middle of the field. They stood there facing one another. Both smirking and excited. 'It's been a long time since i played soccer.'
"GO!" Endou signaled, and both of them dashed towards the ball, Though Akira had a second head start, she stole the ball first. 'fast!' Endou thought. He couldn't react in time as she stole the ball and dribbled it to his goal, then she didn't stay dribbling for long. While she was still far away from the goal, she kicked it normally, but the speed...wasn't. As the ball rocketed towards the net, the net caught it but was held up, as the ball speed was incredible and the ball stayed there in the air rolling ang rolling and finally it dropped. It was smoking.
Endou gaped at the sight. This girl was no ordinary player, she is definitly strong...and that shoot...
Akira turned to endou and winked. "1 for me, 0 for you. " She stated playfully.
Endou stopped his musings and grinned. He walked closer to Akira and went pass her, he settled his spot on he middle of the goal and turned to her. "Akira, change of plans."
"Change of plans?"
"I'll be goalkeeper and you shoot, we will detemin scores by how many balls you'll score and how many balls I block."
"Hee~ Interesting. Sure, I'll play." She smirked. Endou grinned in return and he took out his gloves and wore it. He picked up the ball and then threw it towards Akira, then she hit it with her head, decreasing the ball's bouncing and caught the ball on her knees, balancing it and then dropped it on the ground stepping on the ball.
"Get ready, Endou!"
"Koi!" Endou got into position.
Akira then started to dribble and then kicked the ball normally, or so he thought but as he caught the ball, he was surprised by the speed and stength . He gritted his teeth trying to stop the ball, but unfortunatley the ball's strength was alot stronger.
"2-0." Akira said, her hand on her hip.
Endou got up from his position and rubbed the back of his head. "Suge(9), I never saw that kind of ball before..."He manage to groan out. "Hehe, that was one heck of a shot there." He complimented, as he stood up.
"Doumo(10)." The raven said still smirking.
"Ja, Mou kai tanomu ze! Akira!(11)"
"Sure!"
They spent there training/Playing for hours until they were out of breath, finally they got tired and sat on the grass catching their breath. Endou stood up and went over to his bag and fished something out. Turned out to be an unused water bottle. Endou returned beside Akira; he sat down and held out the water bottle.
"Here, drink this." Endou offered kindly, as Akira took it.
"Arigato." She smiled.
Opening the cap bottle, she drinked the water and once she got enough she stopped. She looked at the brunette and saw that he didn't drink. She was pretty sure that he was thirsty like her.
"Aren't you drinking Endou?"
"No, I'm fine." He said.
'Could it be...?' She smiled to herself and held the water bottle out to him. Endou looked at the bottle then to her.
"Eh?"
"Drink it, I know you're thirsty." She smirked.
Endou sighed and then smiled. "Saw through me?" He said, taking the water bottle and then drinking on it. After he was done, he let out a 'Pwaah~' as an indication that he was refreshed.
"But to think, that you're shoots were that strong...I was really surprised there." Endou pointed out.
"In the end you lost by 89-3."
He shot her a grin, "The last three balls was when i got used to it's power. ahaha."
Akira made no comment.
"Yappa, sakka wa saikou!(12)" He shouted as he plopped down on the grass.
"Sou da ne."
And with that they laughed together relaxing abit. This, was the beginning of the friendship between Endou Mamoru and Akira.
Alright! after the long long time of me not updating the second chapter of the rewritten version, here it is! Sorry it took so long, My last laptop broke and there was no way to fix it. All of the documents was there and it was all erased. So I had to wait for my dad to buy me a new laptop. and after months of waiting! Finally he bought me one! I'm so happy!
But i really couldn't write it all right away since exams were coming and I was kinda busy at my work at school too. So yeah. I got my hands full. I'm still busy, but thankfully i got the time to write just a few for the second chap. Soo, the 2nd chap. I know that it was quite mushy, LOL. but i just couldn't describe it any better. I read wa too much romance that it affects my every writing details lol. but I'm quite satisfied with this chapter, so Imma start on the 3rd one tomorrow. Oh, and also, sorry for my lack of vocabulary ^_^" I am normally good at english, but somehow, me living in a non-english speaking country, my vocabulary usage decreased rapidly over the years. It sucks.
My hands can't move anymore and It's already nightime and I'm sleepy...*yawn*
So some of Akira's personal life is now revealed.
Okay now some notes:
(1)Not bad
(2)Hey
(3)That
(4)Why
(5)No way
(6)That's right
(7)What
(8)You're right
(9)awesome/wow
(10)Thanks
(11)Then lets do it again! (or so...uhh...)
(12)As i thought! Soccer definitly is the best!
Now, all of these words are not really fully translated. I just translated them to their basic meanings. Certain Japanese words and senteces tends to change alot in meanings, depending on the situation. Please Review! It makes me happy when i know that people actually read my story. May it be critisizing or comment. but no Flames please! Ja Ne!